Recapping with historiography... SOVNARKOM: ‘Thus it was as the dominant party of a Soviet government that the Bolsheviks first assumed power, and it was this fact that explains why the revolution was supported not only br Bolsheviks, but also by many others who saw it as a victory not for one party, but for the Soviets as a whole’ (Christian 1986:159). THE CHEKA: ‘When the Bolsheviks looked for historical parallels for the activities of the Cheka, they normally referred to the revolutionary terror of 1794 in France. They did not see any parallel to the Tsarist secret police [Okrana], though Western historians have often drawn one. The Cheka, in fact, operated much more openly and violently than the old police’ ( Fitzpatrick 1994: 69) DISSOLUTION OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY: ‘This xperience accustome the Bolsheviks to resort to violence as a matter of course whenever they ran into resistance, to “solve” their problems by physically annihilating those who caused them. The machine gun became for them the principal instrument of political persuasion’ (Pipes 1990:558).

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AOS2 CREATING A NEW SOCIETY ‘Peace, Bread and Land!’: To what extent did Bolshevik reforms deliver these promises?

Learning Intention: Explain how Lenin attempted to deliver his promises of ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ Outline the characteristics of the Land Decree of 8 November 17 Explain the difficulties faced by the Bolsheviks in providing 'bread‘ Outline what occurred during the negotiations for the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Explains the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 18 1918) Explain why the Bolshevik's agreed to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Outline other various policies the Bolsheviks enacted to create a new society (M.A.R.B.L.E) VCAA Key Knowledge  The challenges the new regime faced in attempting to consolidate its power, including: land redistribution the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk The changes and continuities in political, social, cultural and economic conditions that influenced leaders to compromise their revolutionary ideals, including: issuing of new decrees  the contribution of significant individuals that changed society including: Lenin Trotsky Alexandra Kollontai

The Decree of Land, 8 November 1917 Throughout 1917, peasants had been claiming land they worked, seizing it from landlords. The Bolsheviks legitimised these actions by issuing a decrees at the Second Congress of Soviets (25th October 1917) Their ‘Decree on Land’ was implemented November 8 1917

The Decree of Land, 8 November 1917 Private ownership of land shall be abolished for ever... All land... Shall become the property of the whole people, and pass into the use of those who cultivate it 2. The right to use the land shall be accorded to all citizens of the Russian State (without distinction of sex) desiring to cultivate it by their own labour, with the help of their families, or in partnership, but only as long as they are able to cultivate it... Peasants who, owing to old age or ill health, are permanently disabled and unable to cultivate the land personally, shall lose their rights to the use of it; but in return, shall receive a pension from the State 3. Land tenure shall be on equality basis... There shall be absolutely no restriction on the forms of land tenure – household, farm, communal or co-operative, as it shall be decided in each individual village and settlement Write a sentence or two in your student summary document for each of these three aspects of the Land reforms for revision purposes later

The Promise of Bread This problem was not easily solved Was made further problematic as the Provisional Government had continued to fight in the war and the harvest of 1917 was very poor Lenin was never able to solve this crisis: The situation worsened between 1918 and 1920 due to the impact of Civil War and policies of War Communism (More on that next week)

Class reading: pp. 195 - 197

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Summary Lenin called for immediate peace negotiations: No winners, no losers. Just peace After early talks resulted in cease fire on December 15 1917, Trotsky persuaded General Committee to stall peace process. This could lead to Communist Revolution in Germany. He stalled at the meeting held in Brest-Litovsk (Poland) throughout December (1917), January and February (1918) Germans proposed a treaty that many Bolshevik’s found unacceptable. Lenin demanded they accept it or he would resign. This narrowly gained support of Bolsheviks. Trotsky continued to stall at Brest-Litovsk, saying Russia was pulling out of war but would not sign the treaty. German army grew impatient and launched an offensive on Russia (700,000 men strong). Lenin moved government to Moscow, fearing German take over of Government German troops were devastating Russia, and the Russians eventually signed an even more demanding Treaty at Brest-Litovsk on March 18 1918. This later became void when the Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of its land

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: The Terms Russia forced to give up 32% of its farming land, including the ‘bread basket’ Ukraine. German control of Poland and Baltic regions of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia Germany to be paid three-billion roubles in reparations Russia lost 89% of its iron ore and coal reserves, 54% of its industrial enterprises and 26% of its railways

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Why? Lenin and Trotsky were international revolutionaries: Russia was a model for proletarian conquest of the world Reveals Lenin and Trotsky’s powers of persuasion: Many Bolsheviks did not wish to accept the treaty Evidence suggests that Germany supported Lenin. Germany were now able to focus on the Western Front Treaty of Brest-Litovsk became void after the Treaty of Versailles

Creating a New Society: The Bolshevik Marble Based on the reforms outlined on page 156, what does the following an acronym stand for? M A R B L E Marriage by church not recognised, divorce obtained easily by both partners 18 December 1917 Alphabet pruned, Julian calendar abolished 31 January 1918 Religion banned from schools, church separated from state 9 February 1918 Banks nationalised and under control of state bank 27 December 1917 Large house own by state and subdivided 6 December 1917 Education made right of state, children educated early, mothers in workforce

Summary: Peace, Bread and Land? Delivering the promise of land was the least problematic, as many peasants were already seizing it. The Bolsheviks just legitimised, borrowing from the policy of the SR party The promise of Bread would be an ongoing issue for the Bolshevik Government and Russians The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk eventually deliver the promise of peace (only with Germany), though their departure from the war was costly M.A.R.B.L.E!

This young lady is doing what you could guys could easily (and perhaps should be) doing!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Dd1ssMcJc